<\/p>\n
Michelle Smith was an outlier in the sports industry from the beginning. Working in athletics at Utah State and the University of Utah in the late 1990s, she was the only person on staff who wasn\u2019t either a man or a former athlete. She felt a difference between herself and her colleagues and decided to embrace it. <\/p>\n
\u201cI remember having this inner moment of thinking to myself, I have a choice right now to take on the attributes and behaviors that I\u2019m seeing modeled to me by the men and, similarly, the women that are working college sports, or I can stay true to who I am by nature, which is incredibly friendly and loving and nurturing and collaborative \u2014 really more softer skill sets,\u201d Smith recalled. <\/p>\n
That approach has guided Smith through a nearly three-decade sports career, which reached a pivotal moment in 2020, when the Miller family decided to sell the Utah Jazz. Smith, who had been with the organization for more than six years, was drawn to rejoin the Miller family months later as chief people officer for its other businesses. <\/p>\n
In 2023, the Millers tapped Smith to oversee the organization\u2019s minor league baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees, and movie theater business, making her president of Miller Sports + Entertainment. In that role, she was integral to the organization\u2019s acquisition this year of Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals. In fact, it was Smith who pushed the Millers to invest in both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s team. <\/p>\n
\u201cI raised my hand saying, \u2018We need to keep the Royals,\u2019\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe had a really exceptional opportunity at the time with another buyer, but I raised my hand and said, \u2018There\u2019s so much value to women\u2019s sports in the state of Utah, and I think there\u2019s so much that we can bring to that team.\u2019 I\u2019m really grateful for that opportunity to express my perspective and for it to be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why she\u2019s a Game Changer:<\/b><\/p>\n
With decades of experience in college sports, multimedia rights and with pro teams, Smith oversees Miller Sports + Entertainment\u2019s holdings in minor league baseball, MLS and the NWSL, and has been a leading voice in the company\u2019s entry into women\u2019s sports.<\/p>\n
Born: <\/b>Denver<\/p>\n
Education:<\/b> Utah State University, B.S., marketing <\/p>\n
Family: <\/b>Children, Daphne (23) \u2014 son-in-law, Parker (24) and grandson, Brooks (8 months) \u2014 Cole (20), Brooklyn (16) and Lola (12)<\/p>\n
New place I want to travel to next: <\/b>I\u2019d love to go skiing in Whistler. Vancouver is my favorite city; it reminds me of New York City and Salt Lake City. It\u2019s a perfect blend of city and mountains. <\/p>\n
Attributes I look for when hiring:<\/b> Nimbleness and compassion. <\/p>\n
I have a dream that one day \u2026 : <\/b>All women\u2019s sports will be equally supported by the fan and corporate base as men\u2019s professional sports. I love following LOVB, NWSL, AUSL, WNBA and others. <\/p>\n
Best tool to keep me organized in work and in life:<\/b> Accept that you need help. I finally had to accept that I can\u2019t do it all as I worked to integrate my personal life and my career. I need a house cleaner, someone to pick up my dry cleaning, and a nanny \u2026 and it\u2019s OK!<\/p>\n